"What do you take to make your brain work again? My brain is not what it used to be after diagnosis”
Naz started by saying how diagnosis, treatment and an overload of information means our brains can be sluggish and we cannot think as clearly and concentrate as we did before breast cancer. Cognitive efficiency is reduced and this can lead to a downturn in our psychological well being. We discussed how we are individually affected, how this manifests itself. After treatment for our primary cancer, the trauma and the medication can leave our brains fatigued, and after news about a secondary diagnosis, we feel “shocked” and “numb” and this awful news can affect our brains in a similar way to how we respond after a primary diagnosis.
Lack of sleep was a big contributing factor, as it was noted to make us feel foggy, when our sleep improved, there was also a considerable improvement noted in our ability to concentrate. Prolonged periods of broken sleep give physical and mental difficulties, and getting our brains working again gets even tougher. It was also emphasised how concentration for any length of time is very difficult. Noticing when this is happening helps, and we can take a “pause”. Anxiety makes us feel foggy too, and negative thoughts about ourselves exhaust us. Work can sap us of our energy using all our, now more limited, brain power so we have little left for out of work in our home lives.
Our brains need reawakening and our members discussed strategies and techniques to do that. Breaking down big tasks into small chunks was a method that one member found helpful and others agreed. To challenge and stretch her brain, one member learnt new musical pieces. Another theme that came up was how mindfulness can help and when we pause and take a three minute break, we can come back refreshed, with improved concentration.
Creative activities are demonstrated to improve the elasticity of our brain and a member, after some very difficult news, has taught herself to crochet, and learnt how to focus on something new which has given her a great sense of achievement. We wanted to keep our brains “active” and these creative pursuits alongside puzzle books, escape rooms and reading non-fiction achieves that. Even if we are exhausted, if our brains are active, it is very satisfying. If we are participating in an enjoyable activity, we can become more relaxed and happier, and the frustration at our brain fog may lessen. Although this may not directly improve our brain fog, it gives a sense of well being and can divert from the anger we may be directing at ourselves. Those members who had participated in BRiC’s cognitive training research reported that they had seen a marked improvement in their concentration and attention which had helped the brain fog lift.
Tackling the anxiety that makes us exhausted is really useful - and practising mindfulness helps us find some peace of mind, we might sleep better as a result. Self awareness of how our brains may process information differently now may help too, and acceptance with the understanding of the need to not tipping over into doing too much.
From a practical point of view, having a rest day and taking supplements seemed to help some. Vitamin D, zinc, vitamin C, glucosamine and magnesium were all mentioned along with the B vitamins. Staying hydrated seems to help in addition.
It appears that better sleep is the holy grail, but if this is out of reach, there are various mindful and creative pastimes to give our poor brains a little boost, and help us adapt and live with this new normal.
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